Singapore Airlines said it would refund airfares to all passengers on board the flight.
Singapore Airlines sent offers of compensation to passengers aboard a flight last month that encountered severe turbulence that caused dozens of injuries and one death, the carrier said on Tuesday.
Passengers with minor injuries were offered $10,000 and those with serious injuries could discuss an offer to meet their specific needs, the airline said.
“Passengers medically assessed as having suffered serious injuries, requiring long-term medical care and requesting financial assistance are offered an upfront payment of $25,000 to meet their immediate needs,” which will be part of any final settlement, he added.
A 73-year-old passenger died of a suspected heart attack and dozens of people were injured after flight SQ321 from London to Singapore encountered what the airline described as sudden, extreme turbulence as it flew over Myanmar. It diverted and landed in Bangkok, Thailand.
Passengers said the crew and those who were not strapped down came off the floor or their seats and hit the ceiling of the cabin, breaking it in places. A Bangkok hospital treating passengers said there were injuries to the spinal cord, brain and skull.
As of June 4, more than two weeks after the May 20 flight, 20 passengers were still receiving medical care in Bangkok hospitals, according to the airline. It did not immediately respond to a request for an updated number.
Singapore Airlines said it would refund airfares to all passengers on board the flight and that they would receive delay compensation in accordance with European Union or British regulations.
A preliminary report from Singapore’s Ministry of Transport said a rapid change in gravitational pull and a drop in altitude of 54 meters (177 feet) likely caused passengers and crew to become airborne.
He said the plane was likely flying over an area of “developing convective activity,” a term that refers to the development of severe weather.
There were 211 passengers, including many Australians, British and Singaporeans, and 18 crew on the flight.
The incident has put seatbelt usage practices in the spotlight, with airlines typically allowing passengers to unbuckle their seatbelts during normal cruising conditions while recommending that they keep them on.
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